Enjoy a mock Sumo festival of Ikiko Shrine. Nakizumo， crying baby Sumo， is Japan's traditional event to pray for health and growth of the baby. In this style of Sumo wrestling， two children from one to two years of age are carried respectively by two local parishioners dressed as Sumo wrestlers to battle each other with shouts of "Yoisho， Yoisho，" with the winner being the who cries first. It is held at Ikiko Shrine every September.

History of Bannaji Temple On the site of the present-day Bannaji Temple, a powerful samurai called Minamoto no Yoshiyasu, who was as famous as Taira no Kiyomori and Minamoto no Yoshitomo (the father of Minamoto no Yoritomo and Minamoto no Yoshitsune) built his castle at the end of Heian period. He is the first generation of Ashikaga family.   In 1196, Ashikaga Yoshikane, the son of Yoshiyasu, built a hall dedicated to Dainichi Nyorai, and the 3rd head of Ashikaga family, Ashikaga Yoshiuji, built a hall tower and other buildings. Since that, the Bannaji Temple bacame the clan temple of Ashikaga family. 150 years later, the 7th head of the family, Ashikaga Takauji, founded the Muromachi Shogunate, which gave the Ashikaga family the reign of Japan. Even in the Edo period, as the temple of the Ashikaga family, the direct descendant of the Minamoto clan, was revered and protected by the Tokugawa Shogun, who claimed to be a member of the Minamoto clan.   Became the National Treasure of Japan In 1923, Bannaji Temple was designated as a National Historic Site as the "Ashikaga Family Residence". The main hall, the bell tower, and the sutra hall were designated as National Important Cultural Properties. It was selected as the one of the 100 most famous castles in Japan. The 40,000-square-meter territory is laid out in a square shape, surrounded by a circular fortress and a moat, and retains the characteristics of the Kamakura period's Buke Yashiki (samurai's house).   Annual Events On February 3, the temple hosts the Ashikaga Setsubun Armor Parade, in which more than 150 participants dressed as samurai and wearing armor parade to Bannaji Temple and then perform the bean-scattering ceremony. In spring, you can enjoy cherry blossoms, and in fall, you can see the leaves of the city's natural monument, the Ginkgo tree (about 600 years old), turn yellow, and the beauty of the tree is breathtaking.      

Dive into Waterfalls and Pools – Experience the Wonders of Nature In the Kinugawa Onsen area, one of the most popular outdoor activities is canyoning, offered by the NAOC team. Equipped with professional gear, participants slide down natural waterslides, jump into pools, and climb through streams, immersing themselves in the untouched beauty of the Kinugawa Gorge. From splashing waterfalls to thrilling plunge pools, exciting challenges await at every turn, making it one of the most sought-after summer adventures. The activity lasts about three hours and includes free transportation, full equipment, and friendly guidance, making it suitable for families and beginners. Held annually from June to October, it’s an unforgettable way to challenge yourself and connect with nature during the summer season.

Coffee House yukon is located about 4 minutes walk from Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel. It is a store directly managed by Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel, and it is attractive for its location overlooking Lake Chuzenji. You can enjoy dishes such as the Kanaya Hotel Hundred Year Rice Curry, recreated from the hotel's Taisho era recipe. It's recommended for lunch and tea time. Takeout menu is also available, perfect for accompanying your exploration of Oku-Nikko.

Located in a satoyama (woodland village) near the Naka River, Tsuki noco is a country guesthouse that runs a bakery selling wild yeast bread. The accommodation is a Japanese style house built over 120 years ago. For dinner, they serve original food menu prepared mainly with grains and seasonal vegetables. For breakfast, you will enjoy their wild yeast bread. They can modify meals into curry over rice or vegetable croquettes for children and also can prepare vegan meals. Aside from the bakery and farm stay, they also run Satoyama Gohan no Gakko, a school for learning about nature, with the ambition to acquire, with all participants, the knowledge and techniques to grow food and preserve the satoyama environment for future generations. (※Farm stay is offered from April to November and the bakery is open from December to March)

Ashikaga City, the "Small Kyoto" of Tochigi Pref., tinted with fantasy colors   Most famous spots like Bannaji Temple, Ashikaga School and Ashikaga Orihime Shrine would set up lamps, making visitors feel like they are in a dreamy and mysterious world.   The site of Ashikaga School, the oldest school of Japan, would display Flower Hand Water and Wagasa (Traditional umbrella) Light Show produced by Ashikaga Flower Park, and dreamy bamboo lanterns will be displayed in the bamboo forest on the campus.   In the National Treasure “Bannaji Temple”, the lanterns are placed on the bell tower, the main hall, and the 550-year-old ginkgo tree, so that you can enjoy the lanterns while experiencing the historical atmosphere of the temple.   Ashikaga Orihime Shrine, known as a “Sacred Place for Lovers”, would display 90 Ashikaga Meisen lamps on their staircase. The gorgeous Meissen motifs are illuminated by the colorful lights.

Toji-ba is a place where people stay for extended periods to undergo therapeutic treatments using hot spring baths. In Japan, this has long been cherished as a traditional method of promoting health and wellness. "Terayama Hot Spring" is said to have healing powers for various ailments. The high-quality spring water, rich in iron, is known as the "Miracle Bath" and comes highly recommended even by medical professionals. When consumed, it is effective in treating anemia, gastrointestinal diseases, and constipation. When used for bathing, it improves blood circulation, promoting detoxification and relieving various types of pain. Furthermore, the meals at the inn are prepared with the intention of "eating healthy and safe food to become energized," and they use organic vegetables grown without pesticides and local wild mountain vegetables. Please visit according to your travel style, whether it's a day trip or an overnight stay.   【About the Hot Spring】 Water color: Reddish brown (after heating) Quality: Ferruginous spring Therapeutic effects: Drinking: Anemia, gastrointestinal diseases, constipation, etc. Bathing: Neuralgia, rheumatism, gastrointestinal diseases, gynecological diseases, diabetes, atopic dermatitis, etc.

At Nasu Farm Village, you can spend some relaxing time with horses. It offers programs such as the Horse Trekking Program that even beginners can enjoy and the Horse Therapy Program to befriend a horse. Children and people who are still not quite ready to ride a horse can join this program with peace of mind. The restaurant offers the chef’s special lunch boxes featuring seasonal vegetables harvested on the farm. *Guidance for horseback riding is provided in Japanese. For safety reasons, you may only ride a horse if you understand Japanese or if you have an interpreter to explain the instructions for you.

Feel nature, savor memorable dishes, and enjoy the space of a luxurious and relaxing retreat at Mukunone. The grounds of Mukunone consist of three areas: AUBERGE featuring villa accommodation and a restaurant that serves dishes prepared with a wide variety of seasonal ingredients and specialty food of Nasu; B&B for a casual overnight stay and breakfast; and Mizuniwa featuring its one and only landscape designed by the architect Junya Ishigami. In this precious space, you can spend time connecting with magnificent nature and reflecting on yourself. 【About Mizuniwa】 Mizuniwa is a spectacular architectural and art piece created with the precise calculation and sensibility of the architect Junya Ishigami. It is a place with a picturesque landscape that makes you want to close your eyes and take deep breaths. Trees keep growing and the stream continues to flow. With these continuous changes, Mizuniwa is a forever unfinished beautiful landscape. *Mizuniwa is open to the public (reservation required).

Kanaya Kashi Honpo is a gift shop and café operated by a long-established Japanese hotel. The product lineup includes cookies, based on an original recipe that combines Japanese and Western flavors, and baked confectionery such as pies. The signature Biscuit Series (Cookies) has three variations: Cheese Biscuits (Pastel), Sansho Pepper Biscuits (Loire), and Maple Caramel Biscuits. All of them are carefully made at a factory directly managed by the Kanaya Resorts group. The shop has a modern Japanese style café with the interior design emphasizing wood grains. During the lunch hours, you can casually enjoy the taste of hotel restaurants. Japanese-Style Beef Stew over Rice is a carefully crafted dish using miso and soy sauce produced in Tochigi and is the traditional menu item of the long-established Japanese-style hotel, Kinugawa Kanaya Hotel. Roast Beef Plate is a dish that generously uses sirloin beef, the signature ingredient used at Kinugawa Onsen Hotel. Kanaya Kashi Honpo is the perfect place for taking a break or buying souvenirs during a trip.

A Dramatic Ceremony Draws Laughter and Gasps The Gohan-shiki is a unique ceremony that has been handed down only in Nikko area. Nikko was opened as a sacred mountain for the syncretization of Shintoism and Buddhism, and mountain asceticism by mountain ascetics flourished, with the ascetics bringing back offerings made to the main deity in the mountain and sharing them with people in the village.   The entire ceremony consists of approximately three parts: the "Santen Gogyo Ku" and "Saito Daima Gomaku," the "Gohan Gonyo Ceremony," and the "Garamaki".   After the "Santen Gogyo Ku" and "Saito Daima Gomaku,"the hall becomes bright, the recipients line up on the platform, and the "ceremony of receiving rice with strength" begins. The ceremony proceeds in the following order: "Gojinshu (sacred wine)," "Prayer," "Gohan (rice)," "Naseen (rice dishes)," "Kinko (food)," and "Koyo (offering). One of the most spectacular parts of the ceremony is when a monk dressed in a mountain priest costume presents three heaping piles of rice to a kamishimo-dressed recipient, who is told to "eat 75 bowls of rice without leaving any leftovers". The comical sight of the recipient being forced to eat the rice and having it placed on his head is sure to draw laughter from the audience.   After successfully completing this ceremony, the recipients will conclude the ceremony by sowing the blessings they have received in the ceremony to the general public, in accordance with the Buddhist teaching of "not keeping the blessings for oneself but sharing them with others.   In the Edo period, only feudal lords of 100,000 koku or more could serve as a recipient, and the Tokugawa shoguns and other famous feudal lords from all over the country were named as recipient as an "honor for my clan".

You can enjoy cheesecake and limited edition apple pie in Cheese Garden Shiobara Coffee. The apple pie is lavishly made with large chunks of apples in a honeydew apple sauce, and the sweetness will leave you with a flavorful taste that you won't be able to get enough of!

This log cabin-style hotel stands amidst the Mizunara oak trees on the shores of Lake Chuzenji. All rooms have a balcony or wooden deck, allowing you to enjoy the natural surroundings of Lake Chuzenji while feeling the seasons. In the dining room, you can enjoy French cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients, all while gazing at the Mizunara trees. The hot spring is also surrounded by beautiful nature in every season, and is a proud open-air bath called "Sora-buro." You can enjoy a fantastic atmosphere as you gaze upon the morning sun filtering through the trees and the star-filled sky at night. This is a hotel where you can luxuriously enjoy the charm of the natural surroundings of Nikko National Park. [About the hot spring] Water color: Milky white Spring quality: Sulfur spring Effective: Neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, bruises, chronic digestive diseases, poor circulation, fatigue recovery, etc.

This museum features permanent exhibits about the Yamaage Matsuri of Karasuyama， UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and a National Important Intangible Cultural Heritage. At this facility， a human-like robot named Kansuke Jiisan (Grandpa Kansuke) provides a detailed explanation of the Yamaage Festival. Visitors can get a close look at the large stalls actually used for the festival as well as a one-fifth-scale replica of the actual stage. Local specialty products are sold at the convenient tourist product corner offering the perfect souvenirs."

The Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts opened in 1972 as one of the first public museums of modern and contemporary art in Japan. Kiyoshi KAWASAKI designed the museum architecture including the collection galleries built in 1981. This art museum's collection spans local and domestic artists as well as works from western Europe， and their 9，000-piece collection includes examples of paintings， woodblock prints， illustrations， photographs， and handicrafts. In the Meissen Porcelain Collection Room， around 100 works are displayed. The exhibits from the best collection of Meissen porcelain in Japan are rotated about 4 times annually."

This restaurant is located inside Subanazaka Park， a nature park on the Subanazaka Hill. Situated near the central starting point for the park's hiking courses， here customers can enjoy handmade soba noodles made with an abundance of local buckwheat flour. The restaurant's traditional flavors， prepared by local housewives， are perfect for enjoying after a nature hike. The restaurant's manju steamed buns， which are made by hand starting from the filling， are also highly acclaimed. The surrounding area is a famous destination for viewing Genji fireflies， and when the fireflies appear in June， a variety of locally-operated food stalls also open up nearby. "

Moka City boasts the largest strawberry production in Japan. At Igashira Kanko Strawberry Farm, you can eat as many ripe, sweet strawberries as you like for 60 minutes. There are two varieties of strawberries: "Tochiotome," which has a good balance of sweetness and sourness, and "Tochi-Aika," which has little sourness and stands out for its sweetness. Enjoy your fill of fresh, delicious strawberries that are unique to this producing area. *You cannot choose the variety. *Reservations required for groups *Entry may be restricted depending on circumstances   In addition, the neighboring "Agurikko" sells fresh, freshly picked agricultural products all year round. Recommended products are fully ripe strawberries (January to May) and melons (May to June) from winter to spring, corn in summer, and pears and rice in autumn.